Intelligent selection of message delivery mechanism

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for selecting one of a plurality of delivery mechanisms for sending a message are disclosed. The illustrative embodiment enables the advantageous selection of the delivery mechanism for sending a message from a first telecommunications terminal to a second telecommunications terminal based on at least one of: (i) the location of the first terminal, (ii) the location of the second terminal, (iii) the time and date (i.e., the calendrical time) at the first terminal, (iv) the calendrical time at the second terminal, and (v) one or more properties of the message (e.g., the sending user, the receiving user, a message priority, the contents of the message, etc.). A delivery mechanism for sending a message comprises at least one of: a physical medium, a physical layer protocol, a medium access control, and a network for transport.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of:

[0002] i. PCT Patent Application PCT/US03/14041, filed on 6 May 2003,Attorney Docket 630-035 pct, entitled “Intelligent Selection of Mode ofCommunication,” now pending,

[0003] which is itself a continuation-in-part of:

[0004] ii. U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 60/380,140,filed on May 6, 2002, Attorney Docket 630-007us, entitled “Method ForInterception, Manipulations, and Usage of Bluetooth Voice Streams,” nowexpired.

[0005] Both of these applications are incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention relates to telecommunications in general,and, more particularly, to intelligent selection of a delivery mechanismfor sending a message from a telecommunications terminal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0007]FIG. 1 depicts a schematic diagram of wireless local-area network100 in the prior art, which comprises: stations 101-1 through 101-N,wherein N is a positive integer, and access point 102, interconnected asshown. Each station 101-i, wherein i is a positive integer in the set{1, . . . N}, communicates wirelessly with other stations in local-areanetwork 100 via access point 102. Station 101-i must be located within aparticular distance from access point 102 in order to communicate withaccess point 102 and other stations in wireless local-area network 100.A popular standard for wireless local-area networks is the Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 specification.

[0008]FIG. 2 depicts a schematic diagram of two cellular handsets 201-1and 201-2 that transmit and receive signals via cellular wirelessnetwork 200. As shown in FIG. 2, wireless network 200 comprises Mwireless switching centers 210-1 through 210-M, where M is a positiveinteger, and wireless switching center 210-3 communicates with K basestations 220-3-1 through 220-3-K, where K is a positive integer. Eachwireless switching center 210-i in wireless network 200 typically isconnected to a plurality of base stations; however, for the purpose ofclarity, base stations are shown only for wireless switching center210-3 in FIG. 2.

[0009] A hybrid 802.11/cellular telecommunications terminal is aterminal that has both an IEEE 802.11 radio and a cellular radio (e.g.,a Code Division Multiple Access radio, etc.), and therefore can send andreceive signals either via an IEEE 802.11 local-area network or acellular network.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention enables the advantageous selection of adelivery mechanism for sending a message from a hybridtelecommunications terminal. For the purpose of this specification, adelivery mechanism comprises at least one of:

[0011] (i) a physical medium (e.g., copper, radio, etc.),

[0012] (ii) a physical layer protocol (e.g., Direct Sequence SpreadSpectrum [DSSS], etc.),

[0013] (iii) a medium access control (e.g., Code Division MultipleAccess [CDMA], etc.), and

[0014] (iv) a network for transport (e.g., Public Switched TelephoneNetwork [PSTN], Internet, etc.).

[0015] Naturally, no selection is required for a particular category ifonly one choice is available (e.g., if radio is the only availablephysical medium, etc.).

[0016] In particular, the illustrative embodiment enables the automaticselection of a delivery mechanism for a message sent from a firstterminal to a second terminal based on at least one of:

[0017] (i) the location of the first terminal,

[0018] (ii) the location of the second terminal,

[0019] (iii) the time and date (i.e., the calendrical time) at the firstterminal,

[0020] (iv) the calendrical time at the second terminal, and

[0021] (v) one or more properties of the message (e.g., the sendinguser, the receiving user, a message priority, the contents of themessage, etc.).

[0022] The following examples illustrate the desirability of automaticselection of a delivery mechanism based on (i) through (v) above.

[0023] Example for (i): At certain locations in a hospital, placing atelephone call via a cellular phone might have deleterious effects onnearby medical equipment, while placing a telephone call via an IEEE802.11 station might not interfere with the medical equipment (forexample, because the 802.11 radio operates at a different frequency).Conversely, in an 802.11 “hotspot” (i.e., an 802.11 local-area networkin a public location) it might be more desirable to send an emailmessage via a cellular network than via the hotspot, since encryptionand security typically are more robust in cellular networks. Thus, itwould be advantageous to have automatic selection of the most desirabledelivery mechanism for sending a message from a hybridtelecommunications terminal, where “most desirable” is based on thelocation of the terminal in combination with particular preferences(e.g., user-defined rules, etc.).

[0024] Example for (ii): An administrator in building A of a hospitalplaces a call with a hybrid 802.11/cellular phone to a nurse in buildingB of the hospital, who also has a hybrid 802.11/cellular phone. BuildingB contains sensitive medical equipment, while building A does not. Itwould be advantageous if the call to the nurse were automaticallytransmitted over the hospital campus 802.11 local-area network, ratherthan a cellular network, when the nurse is in building B. Conversely,when the nurse is in building A, it might be more desirable for the callto be transmitted over a cellular network for increased security (e.g.,to comply with federal privacy laws when discussing a patient's records,etc.)

[0025] Example for (iii): An employee places a telephone call via ahybrid 802.11/cellular phone from his or her office. The corporate802.11 local-area network is connected to the Internet via avoice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) gateway. It might be advantageousfor calls to be transmitted via 802.11 and the Internet rather than viaa cellular network during business hours when cellular “air time” ismore expensive than landline telephone charges. Conversely, for anemployee that works the night-shift or weekend-shift, it might beadvantageous for calls to be transmitted by a cellular network when thecellular service provider offers “free nights and weekends.”

[0026] Example for (iv): In the example for (iii), if the employee is inNew York and places a telephone call at 9:00 PM Eastern Standard Time toa person in San Francisco, it might be desirable to transmit the callover the 802.11 local-area network and Internet, rather than a cellularnetwork, if the San Franciscan's cellular plan charges for incomingcalls during peak periods (such as 6:00 PM Pacific Standard Time).

[0027] Examples for (v):

[0028] Bob, who works for a defense contractor, places a telephone callvia a hybrid 802.11/cellular phone to Colonel Flag, the Armyrepresentative on the corporate premises. Since the call is directed toColonel Flag, the call should be transmitted over a cellular network forgreater security.

[0029] Bob sends a high-priority unclassified email message to aco-worker using a hybrid telecommunications terminal. Bob's cellularprovider's email system is not very reliable, and thus the email messageis automatically sent via the corporate 802.11 local-area network, sincereliability, and not security, is the most important criterion for ahigh-priority unclassified message.

[0030] Colonel Flag has a hybrid telecommunications terminal that cancommunicate either via a military satellite-based network, or a civiliancellular network. The terminal supports both voice and datacommunications, and has an operating system that requires a user to login with a password. Colonel Flag's wife, who is a civilian, also has anaccount on this terminal. When Colonel Flag sends a message from theterminal, the message is automatically transmitted either via thesatellite network or the cellular network, depending on the terminal'slocation and/or the calendrical time, as described above. When ColonelFlag's wife logs into the terminal and sends a message, however, themessage is always transmitted via the civilian cellular network.

[0031] Colonel Flag sends an email message from the hybridsatellite/cellular telecommunications terminal to Colonel Blake. Basedon the text of the message, the message is automatically transmittedeither via the cellular network (e.g., the email discusses yesterday'sArmy-Navy football game, etc.) or the satellite network (e.g., the emaildiscusses a planned military operation, etc.).

[0032] For the purposes of this specification, the term “calendricaltime” is defined as indicative of one or more of the following:

[0033] (i) a time (e.g., 16:23:58, etc.),

[0034] (ii) one or more temporal designations (e.g., Tuesday, Novemeber,etc.),

[0035] (iii) one or more events (e.g., Thanksgiving, John's birthday,etc.), and

[0036] (iv) a time span (e.g., 8:00-9:00, etc.).

[0037] The illustrative embodiment comprises: (a) determining thelocation of a first telecommunications terminal; and (b) selecting,based on the location, one of a plurality of physical media available tothe first telecommunications terminal for sending a message to a secondtelecommunications terminal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038]FIG. 1 depicts exemplary wireless local-area network 100 in theprior art.

[0039]FIG. 2 depicts exemplary cellular network 200 and cellularhandsets 201-1 and 201-2 in the prior art.

[0040]FIG. 3 depicts the operation of hybrid telecommunicationsterminals 301-1 and 301-2 in accordance with the illustrative embodimentof the present invention.

[0041]FIG. 4 depicts a block diagram of the salient components of hybridtelecommunications terminal 301-i, as shown in FIG. 3, in accordancewith the illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

[0042]FIG. 5 depicts a flowchart for selecting a physical medium, aphysical layer protocol, a network, and a medium access control forsending a message from hybrid telecommunications terminal 301-i, asshown in FIG. 3, in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043]FIG. 3 depicts a schematic diagram of in accordance with theillustrative embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 depictswireless local-area network 300 centered at access point 302, cellularnetwork 310, hybrid telecommunications terminals 301-1 and 301-2,Internet 303, and Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 304,interconnected as shown.

[0044] Cellular network 310 is identical to cellular network 200, asdepicted in FIG. 2.

[0045] Access point 302 is identical to access point 202, as depicted inFIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3, access point 302 is connected to Internet303 and Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 304, thereby enablingstations in local-area network 300 to send and receive signals viaInternet 303 or Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 304, inwell-known fashion.

[0046] Hybrid telecommunications terminals 301-1 and 301-2 are802.11/cellular telecommunications terminals. As shown in FIG. 3, bothtelecommunications terminals 301-1 and 301-2 are within transmissionrange of cellular network 310. Hybrid telecommunications terminal 301-1is also within transmission range of access point 302, and thus has thecapability of sending and receiving signals via local-area network 300as well as cellular network 310. Hybrid telecommunications terminal301-2, however, is outside transmission range of access point 302 andthus can send and receive signals only via cellular network 310.

[0047] As will be clear to those skilled in the art, FIG. 3 illustratesmerely one embodiment in which a hybrid telecommunications terminalmight be able to send messages via a plurality of delivery mechanisms inaccordance with the present invention. In the example of FIG. 3, hybridtelecommunications terminal 301-1 can send messages via two differentwireless networks (i.e., wireless local-area network 300 and cellularnetwork 310.) In some other embodiments, hybrid telecommunicationsterminal 301-1 might be able to send messages (i) via three or moredifferent networks; (ii) via two or more different physical media (e.g.,copper, radio, etc.); (iii) via two or more different medium accesscontrols (e.g., Code Division Multiple Access, Time Division MultipleAccess, etc.); or (iv) via two or more different physical layerprotocols (e.g., Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum, Orthogonal FrequencyDivision Multiplexing, etc.). It will be clear to those skilled in theart, after reading this specification, how to make and use embodimentsof the present invention for such alternatives.

[0048]FIG. 4 depicts a block diagram of the salient components of hybridtelecommunications terminal 301-i in accordance with the illustrativeembodiment of the present invention. Hybrid telecommunications terminal301-i comprises receiver 401, processor 402, memory 403, transmitter404, and clock 405, interconnected as shown.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 4, receiver 401 receives signals from aplurality of networks, including satellite-based, cellular, and wirelesslocal-area networks. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art,in some embodiments of the present invention receiver 401 might be asingle physical receiver (e.g., a radio, etc.) for receiving signalsfrom different networks, while in some other embodiments receiver 401might be a composite receiver comprising a plurality of physicalreceivers (e.g., a radio and an Ethernet network interface card, twodifferent radios, etc.).

[0050] Processor 402 is a general-purpose processor that is capable ofexecuting instructions stored in memory 403, of reading data from andwriting data into memory 403, of generating messages, and of executingthe tasks described below and with respect to FIG. 5, described below.In some alternative embodiments of the present invention, processor 402might comprise one or more special-purpose processors (e.g., a networkprocessor, a dedicated processor for determining location from satellitesignals, etc.). In either case, it will be clear to those skilled in theart, after reading this disclosure, how to make and use processor 402.

[0051] Memory 403 stores data and executable instructions, as iswell-known in the art, and might be any combination of random-accessmemory (RAM), flash memory, disk drive, etc.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 4, transmitter 404 transmits signals to aplurality of networks, including satellite-based, cellular, and wirelesslocal-area networks. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art,in some embodiments of the present invention transmitter 404 might be asingle physical transmitter (e.g., a radio transmitter, etc.) fortransmitting signals via different networks, while in some otherembodiments transmitter 404 might be a composite transmitter comprisinga plurality of physical transmitters (e.g., a radio transmitter and anEthernet network interface card, two different radio transmitters,etc.).

[0053] Clock 405 transmits the current date and time to processor 402 inwell-known fashion.

[0054]FIG. 5 depicts flowchart 500 for selecting a physical medium, aphysical layer protocol, a network, and a medium access control forsending a message from hybrid telecommunications terminal 301-i inaccordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. Asdisclosed in the illustrative embodiment processor 402 of hybridtelecommunications terminal 301-i executes the tasks of flowchart 500;however, it will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make anduse alternative embodiments of the present invention in which anotherentity (e.g., an Internet server, an access point, a wireless switchingcenter, etc.) performs some or all of the tasks of flowchart 500 (i.e.,“infrastructure-based” embodiments).

[0055] At task 510, a signal to send a message M from hybridtelecommunications terminal 301-i to some other telecommunicationsterminal T (not necessarily hybrid) is received in well-known fashion.In the illustrative embodiment, processor 402 receives this signal(e.g., from a user input device [not shown in FIG. 4], etc.), while insome other embodiments, another entity (e.g., an Internet serverprocessor, an access point processor, etc.) might receive this signal.

[0056] At task 520, the location of hybrid telecommunications terminal301-i is determined. In the illustrative embodiment, satellite signalsreceived by receiver 401 are forwarded to processor 402, and processor402 performs the necessary computations to determine the location ofhybrid telecommunications terminal 301-i. In some other embodiments,hybrid telecommunications terminal 301-i might have a dedicated GlobalPositioning System (GPS) processor for determining location, as iswell-known in the art, while in some other embodiments, another entitysuch as a wireless base station might determine the location of hybridtelecommunications terminal 301-i.

[0057] At optional task 530, the location of hybrid telecommunicationsterminal T is determined. (In some embodiments it might not be desirableto implement task 530 [e.g., it might require too many changes to legacyequipment, etc.] and thus this task is depicted as optional via dottedlines.) In the illustrative embodiment, hybrid telecommunicationsterminal 301-i determines the location of hybrid telecommunicationsterminal T by sending a query to the appropriate access point, server,wireless base station, etc. In some other embodiments, an access point,server, etc. might perform task 530, possibly in addition to task 520,as described above. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how toimplement task 530 in accordance with the illustrative embodiment, or inaccordance with alternative embodiments such as infrastructure-basedimplementations.

[0058] At task 540, the calendrical time at hybrid telecommunicationsterminal 301-i is determined. In the illustrative embodiment, processor402 receives this information from clock 405. In some other embodiments,processor 402 might receive this information from receiver 401, which inturn receives this information from another entity (e.g., a wirelessbase station, etc.). In some other infrastructure-based embodiments, thewireless base station, access point, etc. that performs some or all ofthe tasks of flowchart 500 performs task 540 (e.g., via its own clock,etc.)

[0059] At optional task 550, the calendrical time at telecommunicationsterminal T is determined. In the illustrative embodiment, processor 402determines the calendrical time at hybrid telecommunications terminal Tmathematically based on the results of task 530 and 540 (i.e., bydetermining the number of time zones separating terminals 301-i and Tand accordingly adding or subtracting hours from the calendrical timedetermined at task 540.) In some other embodiments, an access point,server, etc. might perform task 550. It will be clear to those skilledin the art how to implement task 550 in accordance with the illustrativeembodiment, or in accordance with alternative embodiments such asinfrastructure-based implementations.

[0060] At task 560, one or more properties of message M (e.g., priority,semantic content, the sending user, the receiving user, etc.) aredetermined in well-known fashion. In the illustrative embodimentprocessor 402 performs task 560, while in some other embodiments anaccess point, server, etc. might perform task 560.

[0061] At task 570, a physical medium is selected from the set ofphysical media available to hybrid telecommunications terminal 301-i forsending message M. (This set is based on transmitter 404's capabilitiesand terminal 301-i's location). The selection is based on one or more ofthe location(s), calendrical time(s), and properties obtained in tasks520 through 560, in accordance with one or more rules. In theillustrative embodiment task 570 is performed by processor 402, while insome other embodiments an access point, server, etc. might perform task570. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the rules forselecting a physical medium might be hard-coded (e.g., stored in aread-only portion of memory 403, etc.), or might be defined by the userof terminal 301-i (e.g., via input means of terminal 301-i, etc.).

[0062] At task 580, a network is selected from the set of networksavailable to hybrid telecommunications terminal 301-i for sendingmessage M. (This set is based on the physical medium selected at task570, transmitter 404's capabilities, and terminal 301-i's location). Theselection is based on one or more of the location(s), calendricaltime(s), and properties obtained in tasks 520 through 560, in accordancewith one or more rules. In the illustrative embodiment task 580 isperformed by processor 402, while in some other embodiments an accesspoint, server, etc. might perform task 580. As described above, in someembodiments the rules for selecting a network might be hard-coded (e.g.,stored in a read-only portion of memory 403, etc.), or might be definedby the user of terminal 301-i (e.g., via input means of terminal 301-i,etc.).

[0063] At task 590, a physical layer protocol is selected from the setof physical layer protocol available to hybrid telecommunicationsterminal 301-i for sending message M. (This set is based on the networkselected at task 580, transmitter 404's capabilities, and potentiallyterminal 301-i's location). The selection is based on one or more of thelocation(s), calendrical time(s), and properties obtained in tasks 520through 560, in accordance with one or more rules. In the illustrativeembodiment task 590 is performed by processor 402, while in some otherembodiments an access point, server, etc. might perform task 590. Asdescribed above, in some embodiments the rules for selecting a networkmight be hard-coded (e.g., stored in a read-only portion of memory 403,etc.), or might be defined by the user of terminal 301-i (e.g., viainput means of terminal 301-i, etc.).

[0064] At task 595, a medium access control is selected from the set ofmedium access controls available to hybrid telecommunications terminal301-i for sending message M. (This set is based on the network andphysical layer protocols selected at tasks 580 and 590, respectively,and the capabilities of the software stored in memory 403.) Theselection is based on one or more of the location(s), calendricaltime(s), and properties obtained in tasks 520 through 560, in accordancewith one or more rules. In the illustrative embodiment task 595 isperformed by processor 402, while in some other embodiments an accesspoint, server, etc. might perform task 595. As described above, in someembodiments the rules for selecting a network might be hard-coded (e.g.,stored in a read-only portion of memory 403, etc.), or might be definedby the user of terminal 301-i (e.g., via input means of terminal 301-i,etc.).

[0065] It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments aremerely illustrative of the present invention and that many variations ofthe above-described embodiments can be devised by those skilled in theart without departing from the scope of the invention. It is thereforeintended that such variations be included within the scope of thefollowing claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: (a) determining the locationof a first telecommunications terminal; and (b) selecting, based on saidlocation, one of a plurality of physical media available to said firsttelecommunications terminal for sending a message to a secondtelecommunications terminal.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprisingdetermining the location of said second telecommunications terminal; andwherein (b) is also based on said location of said secondtelecommunications terminal.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein (b) isalso based on a property of said message selected from the groupconsisting of: a priority, the sender of said message, the recipient ofsaid message, the length of said message, and the semantic content ofsaid message.
 4. A method comprising: (a) determining the location of afirst telecommunications terminal; and (b) selecting, based on saidlocation, one of a plurality of physical layer protocols available tosaid first telecommunications terminal for sending a message to a secondtelecommunications terminal.
 5. The method of claim 4 further comprisingdetermining the location of said second telecommunications terminal; andwherein (b) is also based on said location of said secondtelecommunications terminal.
 6. The method of claim 4 wherein (b) isalso based on a property of said message selected from the groupconsisting of: a priority, the sender of said message, the recipient ofsaid message, the length of said message, and the semantic content ofsaid message.
 7. A method comprising: (a) determining the location of afirst telecommunications terminal; and (b) selecting, based on saidlocation, one of a plurality of medium access controls available to saidfirst telecommunications terminal for sending a message to a secondtelecommunications terminal.
 8. The method of claim 7 further comprisingdetermining the location of said second telecommunications terminal; andwherein (b) is also based on said location of said secondtelecommunications terminal.
 9. The method of claim 7 wherein (b) isalso based on a property of said message selected from the groupconsisting of: a priority, the sender of said message, the recipient ofsaid message, the length of said message, and the semantic content ofsaid message.
 10. A method comprising: (a) determining the location of afirst telecommunications terminal; and (b) selecting, based on saidlocation, one of a plurality of networks available to said firsttelecommunications terminal for sending a message to a secondtelecommunications terminal.
 11. The method of claim 10 furthercomprising determining the location of said second telecommunicationsterminal; and wherein (b) is also based on said location of said secondtelecommunications terminal.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein (b) isalso based on a property of said message selected from the groupconsisting of: a priority, the sender of said message, the recipient ofsaid message, the length of said message, and the semantic content ofsaid message.
 13. A method comprising: (a) determining the calendricaltime at a first telecommunications terminal; and (b) selecting, based onsaid calendrical time, one of a plurality of physical media available tosaid first telecommunications terminal for sending a message to a secondtelecommunications terminal.
 14. The method of claim 13 furthercomprising determining the calendrical time at said secondtelecommunications terminal; and wherein (b) is also based on saidcalendrical time at said second telecommunications terminal.
 15. Themethod of claim 13 further comprising determining the location of saidfirst telecommunications terminal; and wherein (b) is also based on saidlocation of said first telecommunications terminal.
 16. The method ofclaim 13 wherein (b) is also based on a property of said messageselected from the group consisting of: a priority, the sender of saidmessage, the recipient of said message, the length of said message, andthe semantic content of said message.
 17. A method comprising: (a)determining the calendrical time at a first telecommunications terminal;and (b) selecting, based on said calendrical time, one of a plurality ofphysical layer protocols available to said first telecommunicationsterminal for sending a message to a second telecommunications terminal.18. The method of claim 17 further comprising determining thecalendrical time at said second telecommunications terminal; and wherein(b) is also based on said calendrical time at said secondtelecommunications terminal.
 19. The method of claim 17 furthercomprising determining the location of said first telecommunicationsterminal; and wherein (b) is also based on said location of said firsttelecommunications terminal.
 20. The method of claim 17 wherein (b) isalso based on a property of said message selected from the groupconsisting of: a priority, the sender of said message, the recipient ofsaid message, the length of said message, and the semantic content ofsaid message.
 21. A method comprising: (a) determining the calendricaltime at a first telecommunications terminal; and (b) selecting, based onsaid calendrical time, one of a plurality of medium access controlsavailable to said first telecommunications terminal for sending amessage to a second telecommunications terminal.
 22. The method of claim21 further comprising determining the calendrical time at said secondtelecommunications terminal; and wherein (b) is also based on saidcalendrical time at said second telecommunications terminal.
 23. Themethod of claim 21 further comprising determining the location of saidfirst telecommunications terminal; and wherein (b) is also based on saidlocation of said first telecommunications terminal.
 24. The method ofclaim 21 wherein (b) is also based on a property of said messageselected from the group consisting of: a priority, the sender of saidmessage, the recipient of said message, the length of said message, andthe semantic content of said message.
 25. A method comprising: (a)determining the calendrical time at a first telecommunications terminal;and (b) selecting, based on said calendrical time, one of a plurality ofnetworks available to said first telecommunications terminal for sendinga message to a second telecommunications terminal.
 26. The method ofclaim 25 further comprising determining the calendrical time at saidsecond telecommunications terminal; and wherein (b) is also based onsaid calendrical time at said second telecommunications terminal. 27.The method of claim 25 further comprising determining the location ofsaid first telecommunications terminal; and wherein (b) is also based onsaid location of said first telecommunications terminal.
 28. The methodof claim 25 wherein (b) is also based on a property of said messageselected from the group consisting of: a priority, the sender of saidmessage, the recipient of said message, the length of said message, andthe semantic content of said message.